Local firefighters and insurance agent speak about what to do to mitigate the threat of wildfires and damages.
By Leslie Wade / Special to The Malibu Times
Fire safety is a hot topic for locals after the Crown Fire raged for four days, destroying nearly 14,000 acres in Palmdale, and a fire seared five acres in Calabasas on Sunday. Two days before the fire in Palmdale started, in a part educational effort in fire prevention and emergency preparedness, representatives from Lloyd’s of London Reinsurer Group visited Malibu last week.
The Under 35s Reinsurance Group visited the Los Angeles County Fire Base Camp 8 in Malibu to gain firsthand knowledge from local firefighters about wildfires and the threat caused to the Malibu area. The visit was part of a five-city tour of high catastrophic risk areas, which included Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Houston and San Francisco.
A popular myth is that fire season is year around, Los Angeles County Forestry Chief John Todd said. While a potentially catastrophic fire can start anytime, in Malibu, fire season is from July through December.
With the commencement of the season, Todd, who has been active with the Los Angeles Fire Department for more than 22 years, explained the importance of fire safety and the limitations that the Fire Department faces.
“Our biggest limitation these days is access,” he said. “Access to the fires is limited in a number of areas and that hinders our ability.”
In order to increase access to various areas, Todd recommends immediate evacuation by residents.
“Often people think they can stay and combat the fire but then they panic and try to leave at the last minute, which is the worst possible time,” he said.
Todd encourages homeowners to follow the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Wildfire Action Plan titled “Ready, Set, Go!” The plan enables quick evacuation in the event of a fire, by ensuring that the proper precautions are met prior to the threat of a fire.
According to the plan, getting “ready,” is the first step to fire prevention, which includes adequate brush clearance and limited combustibles in the area.
Getting “set,” is making a plan with the members in your household about what you to do and how to evacuate in the event of a fire so that you are ready to “go” when the fire comes.
It is the “individual’s responsibility” to take care of their personal property, Todd said, and the “Ready, Set, Go!” plan can provide people with the means to be prepared.
More information about the “Ready Set Go!” Plan can be obtained at www.fire.lacounty.gov
Insurability
Local Farmers Insurance Agent Bart Baker also spoke to the Under 35s Group about insurability and brush clearance at Los Angeles County Fire Station 70.
Barker stressed the importance of searching for the right provider for certain areas.
“If a property owner is turned down by one carrier, it doesn’t mean that they will be turned down by all carriers,” Baker said. “It’s important to keep researching. Most carriers have there own idiosyncrasies and carriers will insure a house that they normally wouldn’t insure if certain characteristics are met.”
One characteristic is brush clearance. Baker said the two most important things that a homeowner can do to make their home eligible for full homeowners insurance is to maximize brush clearance and limit combustibles in the area, especially in areas where fire risk is most prevalent, such as in brush filled canyons.
The fire code for the Malibu area requires 200 feet of brush clearance from a property line. At the very minimum, it is important to comply with the code, Baker said, and remember that some carriers will require more brush clearance, depending on the area.
Several carriers require a Class-A, non-combustible roof, and many will set up an inspection after signing a new policy, where they will also look for combustibles near the home. A Class-A, non-combustible roof is any roof that is not a wood-shaked roof. Wood-shaked roofs are no longer legal in Malibu, however, an older home might have one. Roofs with a tile, cement or shingle compositions qualify.
Baker also recommends that every homeowner review their policy annually with an insurance agent, as some policies change from year to year.